Medical Conditions in the Athlete
This domain tests whether you can distinguish benign from dangerous presentations and know activity restrictions. Key concepts: exertional asthma and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (warm-up and pre-exercise short-acting beta-agonist), anaphylaxis, diabetes management during exercise (glucose monitoring, carbohydrate availability, recognizing hypoglycemia), sickle cell trait precautions, and cardiac screening for sudden cardiac death risk (syncope during exertion, family history of premature sudden death, Marfanoid features).
Infectious mononucleosis deserves emphasis: splenic enlargement raises rupture risk; restrict from contact and strenuous activity for a period guided by clinical recovery (commonly at least 3–4 weeks and until afebrile with resolved symptoms), and avoid relying on a single ultrasound. Recognize the athlete with a viral prodrome and posterior cervical adenopathy. Also know relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S), the female athlete triad, and the exertional heat/hydration issues.
Traps: attributing exertional syncope to dehydration when it may signal a cardiomyopathy; clearing an athlete with mono too early; and missing exercise-induced anaphylaxis versus asthma. A worked example: a teen with fever, sore throat, and fatigue has a positive heterophile test - the answer emphasizes no contact sports until clinical resolution and avoidance of splenic trauma, not an arbitrary fixed clearance date.